Automatic machine for feeding and sewing signatures in books

ABSTRACT

A book sewing machine having an incorporated automatic feeder is disclosed. The automatic feeder has two stacks of signatures and acts to remove one signature from each stack simultaneously. The two signatures are both opened and then placed directly astride a sewing saddle of the sewing machine. The sewing saddle carries means for adjusting the spacing of the two signatures, and means for holding the two signatures in place as the sewing saddle moves to the sewing position where the two signatures are both sewn in one operation and then passed for further processing. One embodiment incorporates an automatic paster which applies paste to the signatures adjacent their backbones prior to placing them on the sewing saddle.

The present invention relates to book sewing machines having means forautomatically feeding and sewing signatures in books. Such machinescomprise two main parts, a sewing machine part and an automatic feederpart, normally controlled by a programmer.

The sewing machine or sewer part includes means for perforating thebacks of the signatures, means for joining the signatures to othersignatures by sewing, means for pasting the backs of a group of sewnsignatures, and automatic thread-cutting and discharge means for thecompleted books when sewn.

An essential part of the sewing machine part is the so-called saddle;this includes a fixed part or "fixed saddle" which is positionedlaterally displaced from the zone in which the sewing is effected, and amovable saddle, the "sewing saddle," which moves reciprocally between aposition in which it is aligned with the fixed saddle, and a position inwhich it is located adjacent the perforators and sewing devices of thesewing machine part. Signatures open in a suitable manner (selectedaccording to the type of signature) are deposited from above onto thefixed saddle and are then moved by suitable transporters onto themovable saddle.

In known systems the feeder automatically picks up the signatures from aloader, opens them in the appropriate manner, and places them astridethe fixed saddle, from where they are moved by the abovementionedtransporters onto the movable saddle when this in the above mentionedposition aligned with the fixed saddle. The automatic feeder generallyalso includes a programmer installation, which may be mechanical,electromechanical or electronic, which co-ordinates the variousoperations of the feeder.

This known system which represents an improvement over the previouslyused semi-automatic unit, in which the signatures were loaded onto thefixed saddle by hand, requires, as mentioned above, transporter devicesfor moving the signatures along the fixed saddle and onto the movablesaddle. This, however, presents certain limitations, of which the mostimportant is that it is not possible to make full use of the potentialof the sewing machine part of the machine, especially where this is ofthe type suitable for sewing signatures the length of the back of whichis relatively long.

Known transporters can only operate on one signature at a time so thatthe movable saddle can receive signatures only one at a time.

According to the present invention a book sewing machine havingautomatic means for transporting signatures from a stack thereof andsewing them into books, of the type comprising a feeder part for thesignatures, the feeder having means for opening the signatures alongtheir centre line and for moving them into a movable sewing saddle of asewing machine part, the sewing saddle being reciprocably movablebetween a first position in which the top of the saddle is adjacentsewing devices of the sewing machine part, and a second positionangularly displaced with respect to the first position, is characterisedin that the movable saddle moves in a direction transverse the ridge ofthe saddle and the signature feeder part of the machine is so arrangedwith respect to the sewing machine part and is synchronised therewith insuch a manner that the signatures are fed down from the feeder in anopen position to be placed directly onto the movable saddle of thesewing machine part by the feeder part.

Preferably, the said feeder part is operative to place signatures ontothe sewing saddle whilst the saddle is in the said second positionthereof.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the feeder comprises meansfor supporting two stacks of signatures, one each on respective sides ofthe median longitudinal plane of the machine, gripper means forsimultaneously withdrawing a signature from each of the stacks and fortransferring the two signatures to a conveyor means for opening thesignatures, and means for placing both signatures simultaneously on toadjacent parts of the movable sewing saddle.

Various embodiments of the present invention will now be moreparticularly described, by way of example, with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a partially sectioned side view of a book sewing machineformed as one embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 1, taken on theline II--II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal section showing the elements of the machine ina different operating position;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the embodiment taken on the line IV--IV ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the embodiment taken on the line V--V ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a view of a part of the machine showing the sewer part, themovable saddle and the devices for placing the signatures in lateraladjustment, in a first operating position;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 but showing the elements in a secondoperative position;

FIG. 8 is a view, from the feeder end of the machine, of the movablesaddle of the sewer and of the respective devices for positioning thesignatures and holding them in place on the sewing saddle;

FIGS. 9 and 10 are sections taken on the line IX--IX and X--X of FIG. 8,respectively;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a detail of the feeder of a secondembodiment of this invention;

FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic side view of the feeder shown in FIG. 11; and

FIG. 13 is a diagrammatic plan view of the machine as a whole, showingthe path taken by the signatures from a pair of stacks at the feeder endto the output from the machine.

In all the figures corresponding elements have been assigned the samereference numerals.

In the drawings, there is shown a sewing machine for books, generallyindicated 1, the fixed framework of which includes side walls 2 parallelto and separated from each other. The walls 2 are connected bytransverse elements 2a and carry beams 3 at the lower edges. The beams 3act as guides for the signature feeder generally indicated by thereference numeral 4. The feeder 4 comprises a frame including two sidewalls 5 which are substantially coplanar with the walls 2 of the sewer 1and connected together by transverse elements 6. The walls 5 of thefeeder 4 are mounted upon rollers 7 having horizontal axes, which rollover the upper faces of the beams 3, and are also guided with respect tothe beams 3 by rollers 8 having vertical axes, these also being carriedby the walls 5.

The beams 3 extend well beyond the feeder 4 when this is in a firstposition adjacent the sewer 1, in which position it is illustrated inFIGS. 1, 3 and 5. This is necessary to be able to move the feeder 4 awayfrom the sewer 1 in order to gain access to those parts of the mechanismwhich are accessible only from the facing sides of these parts of themachine.

Movement of the feeder 4 can be effected by means of an electric motor 9carried on a cross beam 10 which connects the longitudinal beams 3. Themotor 9 drives a screw 12 via a worm and wheel reduction gear. The screw12 is situated in the median longitudinal plane of the machine and isprevented from moving axially. A nut 13 carried in the end of a sleeve14 engages the screw 12, and serves as a guide for the end 12a of thescrew 12; the other end of the tube 14 is secured to a cross beam 6' ofthe frame of the feeder 4. When the motor 9 rotates in one direction thefeeder 4 is caused to approach the sewing machine 1, and when the motor9 rotates in the opposite direction the feeder 4 moves away from thesewing machine 1.

The framework of the feeder carries two stacks 15 of signatures arrangedin loaders between the two side walls 5, and adjacent the part whichfaces the sewing machine 1. The loaders are arranged with their backs tothe sewing machine and on opposite sides of and spaced from thelongitudinal median plane in which lies the screw 12. In each of thestacks 15 the backs of the lower signatures S1 (see FIG. 3) rest upontransverse rods 16 and can be folded downwards by a pair of suckers 17carried by a transverse drilled shaft 18 which makes reciprocatingpartial revolutions of about 90° of arc in such manner as to move thesuckers between the two extreme positions shown respectively in FIGS. 1and 3. The purpose of this is to ensure that the signatures S1 may eachbe grasped by grippers 19 carried by an arm keyed to a shaft 20 parallelto the shaft 18, and associated with a cam 21 movement of which controlsthe closure and opening of the grippers 19. The cam 21 is keyed to atransverse shaft 22, which makes reciprocal partial rotations betweenthe extreme positions shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, in synchronism with theshafts 18 and 20. All the shafts 18, 20 and 22 are carried by the walls5 of the feeder 4. The grippers 19 transfer the signatures S1 from thestacks 15 onto a transporter generally indicated 23. The transporter 23comprises a plurality of endless chains 24 which are moved continuouslyin the direction shown by the arrow 25. The chains have a plurality ofsmall teeth 24a arranged in lines 26 transverse the chains. The grippers19 do not deposit the signatures S1 directly upon the upper part of thetransporter 23, but insert them first into spring clips 29 mounted atthe end of arms 30 which are carried by a transverse shaft 13 whichperforms reciprocating partial rotations synchronised with those of theshafts 20 and 22. Thus when the arms 30 are raised (see FIG. 3) thespring clips 29 receive the signatures S1 which are drawn downwards bythe grippers 19 which open as they deposit the signatures into thespring clips. The shaft 31 then rotates and the arms 30 move to depositthe signatures S1 onto the transporter 23 so that they are picked up bythe small teeth 24a of the chains 24 as they pass the clip 29.

The chains 24 are driven continuously by toothed wheels 27 and causerotation of gearwheels 32 keyed to a shaft 33 mounted rotatably inbrackets 34 projecting from the edges of the walls 5 towards the sewingmachine 1. To the shaft 33 is keyed a plurality of discs 35 whichtogether form a transferring cylinder. The transferring cylinder has apair of grippers 36 and 37. The grippers 36 serve to grasp the backs ofthe signatures and the grippers 37 grasp the leading edges of half S2 ofthe signatures S1 whilst these are leaving the upper part of thetransporter 23, and moving substantially tangentially to the perimeterof the transferring cylinder.

Above the upper end of the transporter 23, adjacent the transferringcylinder, there are provided two leafing devices generally indicated 38,of a known type, each of which opens the signatures coming from one ofthe two stacks 15. These leafing devices each comprise four suckers 39carried by respective horizontal shafts 40 perpendicular to the walls 5.The shafts 40 are driven with reciprocating partial rotations of about90° and controlled by a programmer also of a type known in itself (notshown), which also controls the sucking action of the suckers 39 independence on the type of signatures which are to be dealt with.

Downstream from the suckers 39 in each leafing device there is a rod 41carried by a shaft 42 parallel to the shafts 40. The shaft 42 is alsodriven with reciprocating partial rotations, and this operates tomaintain temporarily raised the upper halves S3 of the signatures S1, toallow the grippers 37 of the transferring cylinder to grasp the leadingedge of the lower halves S2 of the signatures S1. The grippers 36 are soarranged as to grasp the backs to the signatures S1 as these leave thetransporter 23. The rotation of the transverse shafts which control themovable devices of the feeder is derived by known means (not shown) froma main driving shaft 43 which is driven from the sewing machine 1 (seeFIG. 5) via toothed wheels 44, 45 and 46, and a telescopicallyextendable longitudinal shaft 47 parallel to the screw 12; all these aresituated outside one of the side walls 5 of the feeder 4.

The sewing machine is controlled by a motor 48 which transmits rotationthrough a belt and pulley transmission 49 and toothed wheels 50, 51 and52 are arranged adjacent the side wall of the sewing machine 1. The endsof the transverse shaft 53 of the wheel 52 are mounted rotatably in theside walls 2 of the sewing machine and one end of the shaft 53 projectsout through one of the walls 2 and carries a toothed control wheel 54which engages with a cooperating toothed wheel 55 which transmitsrotation through a bevel gear 56, to the above mentioned telescopicshaft 47. The shaft 47 extends during withdrawal of the feeder 47 fromthe sewing machine 1 as illustrated by the line of dashes in FIG. 5.

The sewing machine 1 includes the so-called "movable saddle" 57 carriedby two equal balancer arms 58 which are parallel to the walls 2 andmounted rotatably on a transverse shaft 59 which is pivoted in supportsprovided in the walls 2 and integral with the toothed wheel 51. The arms58 are formed as double lever rocker arms and carry rollers (not shown)in pivots 60 (see FIG. 3) at the ends of the arms opposite those whichcarry the movable saddle 57. The rollers engage in cam channels 61formed in opposed lateral faces of two discs 62 arranged between thearms 58 and the adjacent walls 2 of the sewing machine frame. The discs62 are keyed to the shaft 53.

The cam channel 61 and the arms 58 are so shaped that the saddle 57moves periodically between a sewing position (see FIG. 3) in which thetop of the saddle is adjacent known sewing elements 63 which cooperatein a known manner with other sewing devices (not shown) carried by themovable saddle 57, and a loading position (see FIG. 1) in which the topof the saddle 57 lies substantially in a vertical plane which istangential to the discs 35 of the transferring cylinder of the feeder 4.The shape of the cam channel 61 is, moreover, such that the saddleremains for a short time in each of the abovementioned positions so asto receive the signatures and to sew them to the books being made. Thegrippers 36, 37 of the transferring cylinder open to release thesignatures held there-by when the backs of the signatures liesubstantially in the vertical plane which is tangential to the discs 35of the transfer cylinder.

The machine is also provided with means for ensuring that the signaturesare correctly positioned and adequately set in place on the movablesaddle 57 when this is stopped adjacent the sewing elements 63 of thesewing machine 1. This comprises a bar 64 parallel to the shaft 59movable along guides in that face of the saddle adjacent the sewingmachine, upon which the upper halves S3 of the signatures S1 arepositioned. The bar 64 is housed in such a way that it does not projectfrom this face of the saddle and carries two devices 65 spaced from oneanother by a distance equal to that which must separate during sewingthe facing transverse edges of the two signatures which aresimultaneously fed onto the saddle. One end of the bar 64 projectsbeyond the saddle 57 and is pivoted to a balancer lever 66 the pivotpoint of which is mounted to a pivot 67 carried by the saddle. The otherend of the lever 66 carries a roller 68 which engages a face cam 69 in adisc 70 mounted for rotation with the shaft 59.

The arrangement is such that the bar 64 occupies a position with respectto the saddle 57, when the latter is ready to receive the signatures(see FIGS. 1 and 6) in which the devices 65 are displaced with respectto the position which they must occupy in order to ensure correctlateral adjustment of the signatures. The rotation of the shaft 59during the period when the saddle dwells in the sewing position causesmovement of the bar 64 and thus of the devices 65 (see FIG. 7) towardsthe arm 58 opposite to that adjacent which lies the disc 70, and thuscauses the necessary lateral adjustment of the signatures for sewing.

The positions of the loaders 15, the sewing devices 63, and the guidesfor the books already sewn (see FIG. 13), are so arranged that thelateral adjustment effected by the devices 65 as just described issufficient to ensure correct location of the signatures for sewing; thereturn of the bar 64 to the position shown in FIG. 6 is ensured by theaction of resilient biasing means (not shown).

The saddle 57 is also provided with an arrangement for ensuring propercontact of the backs of the signatures to the opposite faces of thesaddle 57. This arrangement, which comes into action during the movementof the saddle towards the sewing devices 63, comprise (see FIGS. 8 and10) a shaft 71 parallel to the bar 64 and mounted rotatably in bearings72 carried by a plate 73 which is covered by the upper half S2 of asignature S1 on the saddle, and mounted movably on the arms 58. To theplate 73 there are fixed racks 75 which engage toothed segments 76carried by a shaft 77 parallel to the shaft 59 and mounted rotatably inthe arms 58 carrying the saddle 57. One of the segments 76 is integrallyformed with an arm 78 to which is pivoted one end of a draw-rod 79. Theother end of the draw-rod 79 is pivoted to one arm 80 of a crank levermounted upon a pivot 81 which is carried by one of the arms 58supporting the saddle, and which is parallel to the shaft 59. The otherarm 82 of the crank lever carries a roller 83 which is in contact with acam 84 keyed to the shaft 59. A spring (not shown) ensures constantcontact between the roller 83 and the periphery of the cam 84.

The shaft 71 carries a plurality of strips 85 connected at one end tothe end of a limb of an associated V-spring 86 the apex of which facesthe plate 73. The shaft 71 can be caused to rotate by means of amechanism similar to that associated with the shaft 77 and comprising anarm 87, a draw-rod 88 and a crank lever 89 controlled by a cam 90 alsokeyed to the shaft 59. The arrangement of the parts is such that afterthe signatures have been laterally adjusted to strips 85 and theirassociated springs 86 press the lower halves S2 of the signatures S1against the plate 73 of the movable saddle 57 and move them downwards onto the saddle as illustrated in broken outline in FIG. 10.

This operation terminates before the saddle reaches the sewing position,shown in FIG. 3, in which it dwells to enable sewing of the signaturesto the books under formation to be completed.

In an alternative embodiment of this invention, shown in FIGS. 11 and12, the feeder 4 is provided with an arrangement for applying strips ofpaste C in short sections to the external faces of the upper halves S3of the signatures S1 adjacent the backs D thereof. For this purpose,adjacent the top of the transferring cylinder constituted by the discs35 this is arranged a container 91 parallel to the shaft 33. Thecontainer 91 carries paste and is equipped with heating means (notshown).

Into the container 91 dips a roller 92 keyed to a shaft 93 andmaintained in rotation by a transmission comprising a chain andsprockets 94 turned by the shaft 33. The shaft 33 also drives a gearpinion 95 which engages a gear pinion 96 mounted on a shaft 97 which isrotatable in openings in the walls 5. Adjacent each end of the shaft 97are keyed two sprockets 98 which carry respective chains 99 which passover sprockets 100 keyed to a shaft 101 parallel to the shaft 97 andalso placed above the transfer cylinder formed by the discs 35.

The chains 99 carry a pair of bars 102 parallel to the shafts 97 and101, and provided with spatulas 103 which, during the continuouscirculation of the bars 102 in the direction of the arrow 104, engageagainst the periphery of the roller 92 and also against the signatures.The spatulas 103 thus pick up paste from the roller 92 and deposit it inthe form of streaks close to the backs of the signatures S1 as they passover the transfer cylinder.

The successive sewing of the signatures is thus accompanied by pastingof the signatures to the books being formed, thereby renderingsuperfluous the conventional pasting operation which is normallyperformed after the sewing of the book. This provides considerablesimplification of the process for the formation of a book and alsosimplifies the equipment necessary to carry this into effect.

The operation of the machine described above will be clear to thoseskilled in the art from the above description.

FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing that the machine is capable ofsewing two books at a time. In FIG. 13 signatures in the position whichthey adopt whilst they are open are indicated 105, and signatures in thepositions in which they are sewn to the books being formed are indicated106. Books emerging from the sewing machine are indicated 107 and 108.

I claim: .[.1. In a book sewing machine of the type having: said feederpart and said sewing machine part..].
 8. .[.The book sewing machine ofclaim 1 wherein there are provided:.]. .Iadd.In a book sewing machine ofthe type having:a sewing machine part for sewing signatures to form abook, said sewing machine part including: sewing devices, a sewingsaddle, and means for moving said sewing saddle reciprocally between afirst position adjacent said sewing devices and a second position remotefrom said sewing devices, and a feeder part including means for holdinga stack of signatures to be sewn into books, means for removing saidsignatures from said stack thereof, means for opening said signaturesalong the line of the central backbone fold thereof, and conveyor meansfor transferring said signatures to said saddle, the improvementwherein: said means for moving said sewing saddle operates to move saidsaddle in a direction transverse the ridge thereof onto which engagesthe central backbone fold of said signatures, said opening meansoperates on said signatures as they are moved along by said conveyor,said conveyor means operates to transfer said sewing saddle, and thereare provided means for synchronising the movement of said feeder meanswith said reciprocating movement of said sewing saddle, .Iaddend. twosaid means for supporting stacks of signatures on said feeder part,gripper means for withdrawing one signature from each of said stacks andfor transferring said two signatures simultaneously onto said conveyormeans, opening means for simultaneously opening both said signatures,and means for simultaneously placing said two opened signatures astrideadjacent parts of said sewing saddle.
 9. The book sewing machine ofclaim .[.1.]. .Iadd.8 .Iaddend.wherein there are furtherprovided,adhesive applying means operating to apply an adhesive to oneof the outer faces of said signature adjacent the backbone fold thereof,prior to placing said signatures onto said sewing saddle.
 10. The booksewing machine of claim 8 wherein there are further provided,adjustmentmeans on said sewing saddle, said adjustment means operating to adjustsimultaneously the positions of said two signatures after they have beenplaced on said sewing saddle.
 11. The book sewing machine of claim 10wherein, there are further provided,holding means on said sewing saddle,said holding means operating after said adjustment means having adjustedthe position of said two signatures on said sewing saddle to hold saidsignatures in position as said sewing saddle moves to said firstposition at which said signatures are sewn.